Alumni Class Note: Heather Antos

A lot of kids dream of being superheroes, but as they grow up, they find that radioactive spiders or vials of Chemical X are difficult to come by. Although Eastern Michigan University graduate Heather Antos never acquired X-ray vision or superhuman strength, she got the next best thing—a job as an assistant editor for Marvel Comics.

Photo Courtesy | Heather Antos

  A Niles native with a degree in electronic media and film production and theatre arts, Antos (BS13) befriended a Marvel editor via social media and began receiving advice on how to break into the comics industry. The editor later invited her to interview for a position at the publisher of pop culture icons like the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men.

“It’s my dream job, hands down,” says Antos, a lifelong comic book fan who now works on the Star Wars and Deadpool comics. “Getting to where I am took a mix of a little bit of luck and a ton of hard work.”

She now lives just outside Manhattan with her German Shepherd, Flash, and is happily engaged. Her life has changed dramatically since graduation, although she looks back favorably at her experiences at Eastern, where she was heavily involved with EMU Theatre and the production of her own weekly news show, projects that helped her grow professionally and personally.

“If something went wrong, it was up to us to fix it,” Antos says. “This is such a crucial skill for people to learn both in the theatre and film worlds and the ‘real world’—at the end of the day the show—or rather, life—must go on. You either can be the person who just sits and watches while it falls apart because you didn’t react or you can be the one who helped it run smoothly. EMU taught me to be the latter.”’

Appropriately, Antos finds herself inspired by stories where “normal average people” do “extraordinary things, despite all odds being against them.” She cites Marvel anti-hero Deadpool as a character she is particularly fond of, as he is a deeply flawed person who tries to better himself.

“These characters, their stories are what helped me push forward,” Antos says. “If they could do it, then so could I. The stories I read growing up meant a lot to me and I always dreamed of being able to inspire people with stories I was a part of creating. It’s kind of weird to think that that’s very well possible now.

Increasing the Mystery: In conversation with Rhys Bowen

Originally published in Current magazine in March 2014 (http://www.ecurrent.com/March-2014/Increasing-the-Mystery/#.VRd5-OG4KSp)

New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen has a self-described “charming aristocratic British accent” and a knack for penning compelling, suspenseful novels. Her Molly Murphy series focuses on the eponymous heroine, who immigrates to New York from her native Ireland and finds herself encountering one chilling murder mystery after another. Bowen will be make an appearance at Raven Award-winning bookstore Aunt Agatha’s in Ann Arbor to talk about and sign her most recent entry in the Molly Murphy saga.
 
Your latest Molly Murphy novel, City of Darkness and Light, takes place in Paris at the turn of the century. What inspired you to choose the city as a setting?

Who would not want to spend time in Paris? Actually the driving force behind this book was my fascination with the art scene, moving from Impressionism with its serene waterscapes to the post-Impressionist painting of Picasso, Chagall, etc.
 
Surely it took some research to make the environment realistic. What steps did you take to keep the story historically accurate?

You're right. Research and historical accuracy are very important to me. My research is always multi-fold. First I read books to give me background. I read several biographies of Picasso, of the Cubists, of the Parisian art world in general. Also books on Dreyfus and his trial. Then I went to Paris and walked the streets that Molly would have to walk. I decided on where I wanted Sid and Gus to live and also plotted where Mary Cassatt, Degas and Renoir would be found. I had to spend time in the Musee d'Orsay, in historic tea salons, up on Montmartre.
 
I've noticed writers tend to put a lot of themselves into their characters, especially the protagonist. How do you feel you and Molly are similar? How do you feel you're different from each other?

Yes, I have to admit that Molly and I have things in common. I am not always so polite or so wise. I tend to speak out first then regret it later. So I created a strong first-person female character who is not always wise, who doesn't always know when to shut up or back down... more like me, I confess. She's far braver than I. I'd never chase crooks, go out on a half built bridge to rescue a child, or climb into a Parisian house where a murder had taken place.
 
Of all genres, what drew you to mysteries?

I grew up reading the ladies of the Golden Age, Dame Agatha, Dorothy Sayers etc. I enjoyed the puzzle, but found them emotionally unsatisfying. Then I discovered Tony Hillerman and the thrill of being taken to another place and being given a glimpse of another culture. So the sense of place and time are paramount to me. But the aspect of the mystery that I like is that the crime novel makes sense of the world. In my world there is justice. It's not always a happy ending but it's a fair ending. We know in real life that the guilty often get away with the crime. We can remedy that in the crime novel. It's satisfying.
 
What is the most challenging part of being a novelist? What do you find is most rewarding?

The most challenging part is the demand of writing two books each year and making each book better than the last. When you have won awards and received great reviews the pressure mounts not to let down the readers and the bar is raised higher each time. Also, as a series progresses there is the challenge of keeping the stories fresh and new.

The most rewarding is the fans. To get letters saying I have helped someone through chemo or after the loss of a spouse or while living in a homeless shelter is amazing and completely humbling.

Best and worst places to take a poop at EMU (Yeah, we went there)

Originally published in The Eastern Echo, 3/29/2013 (http://www.easternecho.com/article/2013/03/best-and-worst-places-to-take-a-poop-at-emu)

One of my more humorous pieces, published for the 2013 April Fool's issue, this article became one of my most widely shared articles ever and ever spawnned a few copycat articles at other colleges. Needless to say, I had a lot of fun working on this one.

Photo Credit | Lukas Burch

Pooping is the great equalizer. Everyone, no matter how beautiful, successful or talented, has to drop off the Browns at the Super Bowl once a day or so. When that primal urge strikes while you’re on campus, it can be difficult to scope out that perfect toilet for you. But have no fear! Here is a comprehensive comparison of the best and worst porcelain thrones at Eastern Michigan University.

Best décor: The award for the most beautiful restroom is, without question, the bathrooms on the main floor of Quirk Theatre. It feels like a bathroom suited for actors of a Hollywood caliber, right here in the epicenter of our own acting culture. You can practice your lines in the gorgeous mirror and sit on one of the pretty chairs like the star you are.

Best place to take a relaxing poop: King Hall’s fourth floor men’s bathroom is, without a doubt, the classiest place to relieve yourself with smooth jazz piped into the spacious room by our friends at WEMU 89.1 FM, the university’s radio station, adding to the atmosphere. Sadly, the women’s bathroom does not have the same luxury—get on that, WEMU.

Least traffic: Some people don’t like answering the call of nature with others around and that’s OK. If you want a bathroom where no one goes to, the fourth floor of Pierce Hall is your winner. Nobody goes to Pierce Hall aside from dealing with admission or financial matters, and once you deal with those, you get out of there. That’s why this quiet little corner of the universe is perfect for private pooping purposes, and as a bonus, it’s pretty well-maintained and generally smells nice (by comparison).

Most traffic: If you don’t like other people overhearing those gross sounds your body produces while defecating, stay far, far away from Pray-Harrold’s bathrooms. It seems like a no-brainer that the amount of people who swarm the bathrooms daily is huge, since the building is easily one of the most-used on campus.

Creepiest bathroom: If you’re the kind of person who takes late-night poops, be sure to stay away from Sherzer Hall. The building, originally built in 1903, is among the creepiest on campus and the bathrooms are complete with old discolored brick and eerie florescent lighting. That being said, Sherzer and its bathrooms have their charms, especially if you like the old-school feeling.

Worst bathroom to navigate: Moving through the lower level of Quirk’s restroom is like trying to steer an oil tanker through a small creek. There is no room between the sinks and stalls, and you’ll probably awkwardly bump into anyone else who has the misfortune of being in that bathroom at the same time. The walk up the stairs to the nice bathrooms on the upper level is definitely, definitely worth it.

Worst location: The bathrooms at the Commons are out the door and downstairs. If you want to use the restroom while eating there, you have to awkwardly tell the cashier you just need to leave to relieve yourself and you’ll be right back, after which you have to go down all of the stairs and travel down a sort of creepy tunnel that almost gives Sherzer a run for its money. After you vacate your bladder and/or bowels, you run back down that tunnel as fast as you can, up the stairs, and hope the cashier remembers who you are and doesn’t think you’re just trying to sneak in to get free food. At that point, you really should have just held it.

Best dorm bathrooms: The Village, for all its other perks, has the added benefit of two bathrooms. No further argument is needed.

Worst dorm bathrooms: The Towers offer the luxury of a private room with a full-size bed and an awesome view of everything ever. That being said, you’re going to have to learn to live with a less-than-pleasant tiny bathroom shared with your suitemate. And not to mention, the hot water in the showers are pretty sketchy.

Best overall bathroom: Welch Hall’s bathroom, while not as nicely-decorated as Quirk’s regal restroom, has little traffic (seriously, have you even been to Welch?) and tends to smell nice for a place utilized for pooping purposes. This one is definitely a winner.

Worst overall john: Alexander Music Building’s bathrooms—all of them-are dull, poorly-lit and usually kind of smell weird. They’re good for getting your basic duties done and double as a makeshift practice room for a music student looking for a place with more echo, but they’re not worth going out of your way to experience.

Did we leave out your favorite or least favorite on-campus bathroom? Let us know in the comments section.

Senior art major's talent as an illustrator is earning praise

Originally published on Eastern Michigan University's official website on 11/5/2014 (http://www.emich.edu/univcomm/releases/release.php?id=1415216631)

Art Credit | Rita Riggs

When Eastern Michigan University senior art major Rita Riggs left a silly comment (“I would marry you.”) on one of comedian Moshe Kasher’s Facebook statuses, she didn’t expect much of a response.
But Kasher, who has made several appearances on Comedy Central, took note of Riggs’ talent and offered a completely different proposal. He asked her to design a logo for his upcoming podcast.
“I was like, ‘Is he serious?’” Riggs says.

“I kind of turned it into a joke. I said, ‘Yeah, like you flying through space with a dog on your head.’ And he responded, ‘Yeah, maybe something kind of like that!’ So we ended up exchanging emails and I drew him something and he loved it.”

Kasher may be the most famous fan of Riggs’ work, but her artwork hasn’t gone unnoticed in the EMU community. Riggs, from Ann Arbor, is known for her signature “Rita Riggs boys,” which are hand-drawn, hand-painted portraits of young men.

According to Riggs, her boys are typically between the ages of 11 and 20, and usually have an androgynous quality. The illustrations exude the kind of strong, misunderstood emotions one would expect from a troubled teenage bad boy.

“I think that through that sort of figure I can get such a range of sensitivity and depth that is a little bit creepy and a little bit beautiful,” Riggs says. “That androgynous male – I think it maybe goes the same for androgynous females – but there’s something about (that form) where we can all relate to it. We can all sort of look at that character and see some kind of story (we) understand through that character.”

Art Credit | Rita Riggs

 Riggs’ knack for characterization plays a significant role in the creation of her art. In fact, Rita Riggs is a character herself, the alter ego of Rita Hillman, although she rarely goes by her birth name.

When Riggs first came to EMU, she was uncertain about her place in the art field. Initially, her heart was set on becoming a tattoo artist, but after an apprenticeship in the craft, she found that the work was too strict and client-based. She found herself instead delving into the world of illustration, which she describes as a “method of storytelling.”

“[Illustration is] a great way to create a world that you want to live in,” Riggs says. “So if you’re going through something in your life that is maybe boring or mundane, you can create an imaginary world that’s a lot more interesting, and then you can give that to someone.”

In order to follow her interest in illustration, Riggs carefully handpicked art courses to build her own program. She began by taking a number of drawing classes, then studied screen-printing, another crucial tool in the field; and is now trying her hand at graphic design.

Her involvement in the art world doesn’t end at the classroom door. Over the summer, Riggs curated a pop-surrealism show in Ypsilanti called Lavender Lava, which she says showcased creators in a variety of specialized art fields – tattooists, comic book artists, graffiti artists, and even a woman who specialized in making plush toys. Her show included a number of EMU alumni and EMU art professor Michael Reedy.

EMU discusses unused dorms

Originally published in The Eastern Echo, 3/10/2013 (http://www.easternecho.com/m/article/2013/03/emu-discusses-unused-dorms)

Photo Credit | Jess J. Salisbury

 Nestled in the heart of Eastern Michigan University’s campus, the Lydia I. Jones Residence Hall was the center of many students’ universes, a place of afternoon naps and late-night homework sessions.
Walk through its front doors and its warm, welcoming lounge will greet you with velvety ruby carpet and the exquisite woodwork of a forgotten time. Its sister building, the adjacent Mary A. Goddard Residence Hall, boasts a fine marble entrance leading into a streamlined, modern-looking interior.

The sweet sound of music wafts into the inviting lounge through the open window. A band is playing in the dorms’ shared courtyard.

“If you opened up your windows you could hear the concert as loud as if you were in the front row,” said Michael Hejka, a music education major who lived in Goddard Hall from 2001-03.

That was then; this is now. The plain, lifeless halls are cold and dead in the winter air, and the formerly friendly-looking lounges have taken on a chilling, almost eerie feeling. Furniture is stacked like an oversized game of Jenga, each lonely chair seemingly awaiting the day when some frazzled college student will pull it from the bunch once again and laze upon it.

The Jones and Goddard halls, originally female-only dorms and both formerly honors dorms, were no longer utilized as student housing in 2005. The various organizations that had offices there, such as Upward Bound, DECA and The Eastern Echo, had all vacated the building by 2010 as well. Now, the two buildings sit unused, only serving to provide extra storage space for the university and plenty of creepy rumors for the students.

Despite a multitude of student-propagated myths about the vacant buildings, the true downfall of the dorms was due to a low point in enrollment.

Brian Fitzgerald, associate director of residential services for EMU Housing, said the dorms were closed in light of fewer students living on campus.

“It was more just a matter of demand,” Fitzgerald said. “There wasn’t a demand for it. We didn’t have as many students at Eastern at the time.”

Jones Hall was constructed in 1948 and Goddard in 1955. Both structures were built by R.S. Gerganoff from Ypsilanti, and the designs of the buildings were similar to those of the Munson and Brown apartments and King Hall (as well as its now-demolished twin, Goodison Hall). The individual dorm rooms were spacious and cozy, and while Jones had community baths, Goddard boasted private bathrooms for every suite.

Sadly, like many unused buildings, the once-charming Jones and Goddard halls have fallen into disrepair in the years since closing, suffering a flood in the winter of 2008 and enduring eight years of limited maintenance.

 

“It didn’t look like that when we moved out,” said Dieter Otto, one of the directors for EMU’s Physical Plant Division. “Think about not cleaning your house for eight years.”

“It’s beautiful,” Fitzgerald said. “The woodwork in Jones and Goddard—kind of the old style—but definitely, it will need kind of a mechanical upgrade if we use it again.”

The former dorms have been broken into as well, with trespassers ranging from squatters to curious students. Although according to Otto, break-ins are not as big of a problem as they have been in previous years.

“The [EMU] Department of Public Safety does a really good job of minimizing any safety concerns with the buildings,” Otto said.

While structurally sound, the buildings do have many infrastructure problems due to age, Otto said. The dorms do not currently have running water, the pipes need replacing, the electrical work in the building may need an update and Jones doesn’t even have an elevator.

But Jones and Goddard are not destined for the wrecking ball just yet.

“We’re looking how to best utilize the space for the future of the university,” Otto said. “Any space on campus is always looked at as how it can be incorporated or improved, so that space is being looked at as that.”

One of the biggest challenges of reopening Jones and Goddard is funding. Otto and Fitzgerald said the renovations needed to make the buildings functional once again would cost millions. Another roadblock is deciding how to repurpose the buildings.

“There’s a lot of ideas, and a lot of people who have input on that and how that space will be used,” Otto said, mentioning that both the Arts Department and the Housing Department have looked into expanding into Jones and Goddard.

“I would like to see them as dorms,” said Aida Beard, the Physical Plant Division’s zone manager. “But also, with the new concept of the living and learning communities, I think that would be a good place to start, to use them as classrooms as well as dorm rooms. I think it’s a great space on campus.”

Photo Credit | Jess J. Salisbury

 With the discussion of the two former dorms as the potentially useful space they appear to be, it is easy to forget that for many young people making their way in the world, these old buildings were once called home.

A quick glance at the comments on the Jones and Goddard hall photographs in the Office for Alumni Relations’ recent Facebook contest, Residence Hall Rally, showed that these two dorms held a certain significance to the students who lived there, even years later. These places were not simply buildings, but communities.

Julie McKeeman, who lived in Jones Hall from 1997 to 2000, said, “We started the first annual Geek Week competition (although the geeks weren’t too happy about it). I also remember collecting aluminum tabs and taking them to Mott’s Children’s Hospital. Our front desk staff put on our own puppet rendition of ‘Wizard of Oz.’ We also had our annual semiformal dance.”

“They just had a very lively community,” Fitzgerald said. “They would have some interesting programs. They tended to be very witty … they were very close-knit.”

But with newer, modern dorms like the Village Complex, would students still opt to live in the historic buildings?

“I think it would definitely fill a niche,” Fitzgerald said. “I think students would like it. I mean you have the courtyard, you have the lounges … The lounges I think are beautiful. I really like the wood. And then there’s some kind of idiosyncratic rooms there. Like a lot of older buildings, it’s not as cookie-cutter.”

The futures of Jones and Goddard are uncertain at this point. With the ever-increasing student population, will these buildings finally see renovation and reuse? Will the next generation of EMU students get to experience the community and camaraderie of these beloved dorms? Only time will tell for sure.

Guitarist overcomes disability to play well

Originally published in The Eastern Echo, 4/3/2013 (http://www.easternecho.com/article/2013/04/guitarist-overcomes-disability-to-play-well)

Photo Courtesy | Donald Lajiness

Guitarist Donald Lajiness, a sophomore at Eastern Michigan University, steps to the front of the Alexander Music Building’s auditorium to a burst of ecstatic applause. He sits down in the proper classical guitar position— foot up, fretboard raised —and begins to strum the opening chord of the mysterious-sounding “Koyunbaba,” a modern piece with Turkish influences composed by Carlo Domeniconi. After a nearly flawless recital, the musician basks in the glow of his fellow music majors’ collective cheering and praise.

Had you closed your eyes through the thrilling performance, you would not have known that Lajiness, 31, was born with only one arm.

As a 14-year-old living in Pinckney, Mich., Lajiness, whose left arm ends just below his elbow, wondered how he could manage to become a guitarist. Around that time, he watched a man playing guitar with his feet on TV.

“He was actually really great at it,” Lajiness said. “And I figured if he could do it, I could do it.”

Over the next few years, Lajiness developed his own unique approach for playing guitar by taping a guitar pick to his left arm, his strumming and picking arm. Since then, he has learned several
techniques and styles and now studies classical guitar with EMU professor Nelson Amos.

“Don has an infectious enthusiasm for making music,” Amos said. “I regard him as being an inspiration for all my guitar students.”

Previously, Lajiness performed as the lead guitarist of a metal outfit called The Second System, hailing from Saginaw. The band shared a stage with a number of national acts, including former members of Pantera and has toured across the United States. According to Lajiness, the band broke up due to various personal reasons.

“I was getting really tired of it because music’s my life and that’s what I wanted to do. I want to perform,” Lajiness said, noting that he left the group to begin working toward his music performance degree. “It just took me as far as I could go and I wasn’t getting much out of it so I quit the band for school pretty much. But I’m still best friends with them.”

When he’s not practicing or performing, Lajiness loves telling the story of how he and his fiancée Nicole, who he plans to marry early next year, got together. The couple knew each other as teenagers and reconnected over Facebook years later.

“I was actually obsessed with her but never wanted to talk to her because I was too shy,” Lajiness
said, admitting he’d had a huge crush on her since middle school.

Through his formative years, Lajiness acknowledged that his disability didn’t make the difficult task of growing up among sometimes-cruel kids any easier.

“The biggest challenge was pretty much fitting in,” Lajiness said. “Kids don’t understand when they see something different, when you are different from other people. I would have to say the toughest was being teased a lot.”

Now, as part of the music program at EMU, Lajiness feels an overwhelming sense of belonging.

“The people in the music department are really great,” Lajiness said. “They’re definitely not judgmental. When I first came here to EMU, I’m sure there was a lot of questions but [that] didn’t really get me down and everybody said ‘hi’ to me. They didn’t really treat me as different.”

The other music majors were intrigued by Lajiness’ one-of-a-kind approach towards playing guitar.

“They were very interested to actually hear me play because they’ve never seen it before so I just played and they loved it. I’m just as good as somebody with two hands so I was accepted pretty much as an equal.”

Both Amos and EMU violin professor Daniel Foster were floored by Lajiness’ audition in November 2012, leaving quite the first impression.

“Don played a remarkable audition on applying to EMU last semester,” Amos said. “Both professor Foster and I were bowled over by his expressive playing, accuracy and confidence. He has continued to display these traits in other performances given in the weekly seminar and the student recitals.”
Lajiness has now found a home within Amos’ classical guitar studio, which has provided a supportive and lively community.

“Being a part of the guitar studio is a very great experience for me because I’ve never been with so many great guitar players,” Lajiness said, describing a bit of the camaraderie that has grown up among the guitarists of EMU. “You hold the door for each other and you help each other out, and that’s what builds friendships. All the guitar players are really great players and they have really great personalities so I’m glad to be in it.”

Lajiness has come a long way in both his musicianship and personal struggles. His strength shines in both his playing and in his life.

“We need more people to be strong and to not just lay down every time they get kicked down. We need to keep on going,” Lajiness said. “And that applies to my life—every time I’ve gotten kicked down I could have gave up right away. But what kind of person would that make me in this world and what kind of contribution would I be making toward the human race? And that’s what everyone should be actually thinking about—‘What kind of contribution can I make to this planet?’”

Two Michigan senators attend WRC panel on human trafficking

Originally published in The Eastern Echo, 1/28/2015 (http://www.easternecho.com/article/2015/01/womens-resources-center-hosts-human-trafficking-panel)

Senators Rebekah Warren and Judy Emmons joined Eastern Michigan University's officer Cathy Wilman and social work instructor David Manville Wednesday night for a panel on human trafficking held by the EMU Women’s Resource Center.

The four panelists led a discussion in Room 300 of the Student Center regarding the reality of trafficking and slavery in the U.S., a topic of which Wilman feels most people are largely ignorant.

“I was a police officer for several years before I even knew it existed,” she said.

Human trafficking involves the trade of human beings who are forced into labor or prostitution. There are an estimated 27 million people currently enslaved – more people today than at any other time in history.

According to Warren, the state of Michigan is a hotbed for human trafficking especially due to its proximity to the Canadian border and the large amount of traffic, particularly during prominent events such as the North American International Auto Show held annually in Detroit.

While sex trafficking is a huge issue, Michigan’s labor trade is especially problematic, with Warren estimating that 60 percent of the trafficking activity in the state involves forced labor.

One point of the event is to raise awareness about how extreme the problem of human trafficking is, even in everyday life. Manville gave this example: an estimated 20 percent of chocolate comes from slave labor. Warren also noted that salons and restaurants are places where children may be illegally forced to work.

Another grim aspect of human trafficking that was discussed is the sex trade.

“They need to change the name to what it really is: the rape trade,” Manville said.

According to Hope for the Voiceless, a division of the Michigan Abolitionist Project, society's commercialization of sex has created a culture where viewing -- and buying -- bodies have been normalized.

Traditionally the law has been punitive concerning prostitutes, many of whom are forced into the profession by another person. Recently, under the leadership of Emmons, Michigan has approved a number of laws protecting the victims and punishing the traffickers and "Johns," or buyers.

“A lot of these people were being re-victimized by the system for committing the crime of prostitution,” Warren said.

The panelists spent a great deal of time talking about the signs of trafficking and how to identify victims.

“My job is to make people aware,” Manville said. “My job is to teach it.”

Manville is a proponent of changing the way we speak about the topic, rebranding “pimps” as serial rapists and “child prostitutes” as victims.

One student attendee, history major Jared Jeffries, remarked about the sugarcoating of terminology associated with human trafficking.

“Why don't we call it the slave trade?” he said. “Let's call it what it is so we can address it.”

Red Flags for Human Trafficking

• Victims may be depressed, hostile, nervous or have difficulty maintaining eye contact.
• Victims may be branded, tattooed or scarred in a way that denotes ownership, and may show signs of physical abuse, poor hygiene or neglect, such as old injuries or advanced diseases.
• Victims may be unaware of their own address or have inconsistent stories.
• Victims have no control of their money or identification documents, have their communication restricted and may be watched.
• Victims may have few personal possessions.
• Victims often pay for health services or hotel rooms in cash.
• A victim may have multiple sexually transmitted diseases and may be unclear about how they were contracted.
• Several victims may live or work together, and too many people may share a space. The place in which they are living may have an unusual amount of security measures in place, such as barred windows. Red flags for sex trafficking, such as condoms or "trick books," may be present.
• Several girls or women may be with one or a few men, who "speak" for the female victims.

SOURCE: Bill Schuette, Michigan Attorney General

Beyond the binary: Speaker talks about living as a transgender person in the U.S.

Originally published in The Eastern Echo, 2/18/2015 (http://www.easternecho.com/article/2015/02/beyond-the-binary)

A large crowd of students gathered in the Quirk Sponberg Theatre for a frank discussion on gender as part of the event “Beyond the Binary” on Tuesday.

The event featured speaker Noelle Cook, who is transgender.

Noelle provided insight on the role of gender in society highlighting the differences between cultures.

She explained genders that exist in certain non-Western cultures, such as the “hijra” of Pakistan and India who identify as neither male nor female.

Other cultures with third genders include the Samoans and native Hawaiians, the latter of which have the “mahu,” an esteemed group whom Noelle described as being primarily domestic but not female.

Noelle clarified the definitions of several commonly confused terms, particularly gender identity, which she described as one’s “personal experience with their own gender.”

“A person’s gender is only a very, very tiny part of them and it mostly depends on their own experience,” Noelle said.

Following the short, informative session, Noelle invited attendees to ask her about any aspect of
transgender life they were curious about.

No topic was off-limits -- Noelle shared stories of discrimination and the hardships she faced since beginning her physical transition 13 months ago, such as having experienced difficulty receiving medical care and being refused service when the gender on her ID did not match the gender she presented.

According to Noelle, one in 12 transgender people will be murdered and 41 percent end up taking their own lives. Additionally, while the transgender population is only estimated to be .5 percent of the population, about 10 percent of crimes are directed toward them.

Despite these unpleasant aspects of transitioning, Noelle remains confident and content with her gender identity.

“I’d rather risk being that one in 12 or 41 percent to experience who I really am,” she said. “I am so much more at peace.”

EMU goes to the dogs

Originally published in The Eastern Echo, 2/15/2015 (http://www.easternecho.com/article/2015/02/wellness-woof-wednesday)

Photo Credit | Janina Pollatz

Eastern Michigan University students took a moment to paws – er, pause – and de-stress with the help of a friendly furry friend as part of Wellness Woof Wednesday.

Bindi, an Australian Shepherd, along with her trainer, Barbara Reed, captivated a crowd of students at the Snow Health Center by performing tricks and spreading puppy love Wednesday evening. Bindi works with Therapaws, a Washtenaw County-based nonprofit organization of therapy dogs and their owners.

Attendees gathered around as Bindi did the “squirrel,” standing up on her hind legs and putting her paws up. When someone told her to “sleep,” she lay still on the floor. Each trick was rewarded with a treat – according to Reed, Bindi was encouraged by the promise of food.

“She’s a fast learner and very motivated by treats,” Reed said. “She can learn a trick in a couple of 20 minute sessions, reinforced frequently.”

According to Mayo Clinic, pet therapy can help people cope through illness and help relieve depression, anxiety and fatigue. Therapaws, which belongs to a national organization called Therapy
Dogs Incorporated, works primarily in schools and health care centers to provide emotional and social support. The dogs are trained by their owners, who volunteer with the organization.

As for Bindi, she was adopted from the Humane Society about seven years ago and lives with Reed. She has had quite a bit of experience as a therapy dog.

“For years, we volunteered with Ele’s Place, a grieving children’s center where kids three to 18 go for group sessions with other kids who have all lost a parent, sibling or other important person,” Reed said. “We were available to kids who needed a bit of doggy love and understanding, kind of like today at EMU.”

Reed understands the need for canine affection, especially for college students who grew up with a family dog.

“When my daughter was in college in California, one of the hardest parts was missing her dog,” Reed said. “I wish an organization like ours had brought dogs onto her campus.”

Michael Scott, a freshman computer science major, was missing his golden retriever when he came to the event.

“I love animals, especially dogs,” Scott said. “I’m really going through a lot, and I need that love.”

Students meet and greet campus police

Originally published in The Eastern Echo, 2/11/2015 (http://www.easternecho.com/article/2015/02/police-meet-and-greet)

The Eastern Michigan University Department of Public Safety invited students to meet and mingle with its officers on Tuesday afternoon as part of an effort to break down barriers between police and the community.

The event, a collaboration between DPS, Student Government, the Center for Multicultural Affairs and the Black Student Union, was held in room 300 of the Student Center. Its purpose was to allow EMU students and the officers to walk away with a better understanding of one another.

“We just want to be open to our community here on campus,” EMU Chief of Police Bob Heighes said.
“The community is part of us and we’re part of the community. This is kind of an opportunity for an informal get-together, just to sit down and talk to one another.”

Students and other community members were free to converse with the officers who were scattered throughout the room. Light refreshments were provided.

BSU President Domonique McGhee, a senior social work major, hoped the meet and greet would help build a healthy relationship between the campus community and the police force, especially in light of recent tragedies. She wanted attendees to know that not all police officers are bad and that they can feel safe at EMU.

“Over the recent months, there have been a lot of cases of police brutality around the nation and people not caring about human lives, and we just wanted to make sure that everyone on campus felt comfortable with the people that are supposed to protect and serve them,” she said.
Student Body President Desmond Miller echoed McGhee’s sentiments.

“This event came out of a lot of students feeling like there was a lack of communication between DPS and the student body, especially in light of what’s going on in Ferguson,” he said. “So to prevent things like that from happening, we wanted to build a stronger community between our police officers and the student body. I work with them all the time so I know they’re great, but it’s just about making sure that students know that they can feel comfortable talking to our police officers.”

Jim Tran, a freshman psychology major, said that events like the meet and greet are important to foster a positive relationship between the community and the police, especially when media often vilifies officers.

“We have this misinterpretation in this day and age, where you see a police officer and if you do something bad, they’ll probably shoot you on sight,” Tran said. “Everyone’s trying to get to know their local police officer and get acquainted with them, so this false image or fear they have toward officers goes away.”

Students for Life tackle abortion in Halle Library

Originally published in The Eastern Echo, 2/4/2015 (http://www.easternecho.com/article/2015/02/right-to-life-panel)

Eastern Michigan University students, faculty and community members gathered in Halle Library for a panel discussion on the topic of abortion titled “A Woman’s Choice?” presented by Right to Life of
Michigan and EMU Students for Life.

The primary focus of the panel, which was held as one of the university’s Black History Month events, was to zero in on the prevalence of abortion in the African-American community. The audience appeared to be primarily Caucasian and older than typical college age.

Topics of discussion ranged from what the role of men is in the pro-life movement to the effects of abortion on the population.

“The black community is targeted,” panelist Brad Smith said. “If you don’t think so, you’re deceiving yourself. If you don’t understand that this is racism, then you don’t understand what racism is.”

The panelists, all of whom identified as pro-life, included Missy Parker Miller of Bethany Christian Services, an adoption agency; Iris Proctor of Arbor Vitae, an Ann Arbor-based crisis pregnancy center; Mary Logwood, a woman who had several abortions; Katie Perrotta, junior communications major and president of SFL; Brad Smith, father of a child with Trisomy 18; and Yodit Brooks of Evangel Ministries in Detroit. Deacon Dominick Pastore acted as moderator for the discussion.

“Colleges are really the battleground of the pro-life movement,” Perrotta said.
Smith argued that abortion in the U.S. is inherently prejudiced against the African-American community. He described an occasion in which Planned Parenthood placed leaflets on the doors of houses in a primarily black neighborhood and stated that the founder of the organization, Margaret Sanger, was a supporter of eugenics.

“What Hitler did was born out of Planned Parenthood and out of America,” Smith said. “Today, 80 percent of their sites are located near black population centers. There are people who want to wipe out the black population.”

SFL, a chapter of the national group Students for Life of America, describes itself as “committed to engaging their campus in the pro-life cause” and “[seeking] to challenge the legitimacy of Roe vs. Wade.”

Perrotta said that more than half of abortions in the U.S. are performed for college-aged women.

“We’ll protect seals, owls, plants—my ethnic group lost one percent of its population,” Proctor said. “To lose that difference, that’s a loss that should matter.”